Heart of Illusory Thunder

Her Soul Power perception told her unmistakably: this was not an illusion, not false light and shadow created by a Soul Tool, nor any kind of deceptive disguise.

This was a genuine thousand-year first Soul Ring, perfectly fused with the Martial Soul! Its level of energy and the completeness of its laws were fundamentally different from a Hundred Year Soul Ring.

"Hoo..." Bibi Dong drew a deep, nearly inaudible breath, then slowly let it out.

Her exquisite face remained calm, but her pale violet eyes hid even more complicated thoughts like whirlpools. Her gaze moved slowly between Chen Li's young face, whose features already showed traces of resilience, and the Purple Soul Ring behind him.

"Chen Li, six years old, currently at eighteenth rank Soul Power." She accurately recited the information. Her tone was calm and flat, yet carried an unquestionable certainty.

"Yes, Your Majesty the Pope," Chen Li admitted frankly.

Bibi Dong leaned forward slightly. The gem atop her scepter reflected a faint glow as she looked into Chen Li's eyes. Her voice suddenly became solemn and direct, striking straight at the heart of the matter. "Then tell me: are you willing to devote your strength and loyalty to Spirit Hall from this day forward?"

There was no beating around the bush, no probing. This was the most direct recruitment—and the harshest test.

"I am willing." Chen Li's answer was equally crisp, without the slightest hesitation.

His gaze was clear and resolute. To him, both the Star Luo Empire and the Dust Family had already abandoned him.

Spirit Hall had given him hope of breaking free from his predicament and a platform to grow. Establishing himself here and gaining strength was the most realistic choice.

"Very good." Bibi Dong nodded slightly, leaning back into her chair and resuming the posture of the Pope passing judgment.

"From this moment on, you will be included among Spirit Hall's Core Disciples and granted the corresponding resource allocation and access privileges. Remember, this is based on the potential you have displayed thus far. Spirit Hall does not raise useless people. If your future growth fails to meet these expectations, all your privileges will be adjusted accordingly."

Her tone was decisive, carrying the iron-blooded rules behind her words.

Resources could be directed where needed, but they would never be wasted.

"I understand, Your Majesty the Pope," Chen Li replied in a low voice. After a brief pause, he respectfully yet firmly made his request. "In addition, I have one request. I hope Your Majesty the Pope will permit it."

"Speak." Bibi Dong's gaze narrowed slightly.

Chen Li arranged his words carefully. He needed to achieve his goal without revealing his core secret. "My Martial Soul is unusual. Though I was fortunate enough to succeed yesterday, the mechanism by which it adapts to Soul Rings remains unclear.

Master Lor Diarra's research has provided a direction, but I believe theory ultimately requires repeated practical verification and refinement."

He raised his head, his eyes burning. "Therefore, I ask Your Majesty to grant me permission to freely enter the various soul beast habitats and training grounds under Spirit Hall's jurisdiction, as well as permission to venture into certain soul beast forests outside when necessary and when safety can be guaranteed.

I need to observe, encounter, and even experiment with the Soul Rings of soul beasts of different types and ages in large numbers. Through actual combat and pushing my limits, I need to determine what qualities my Martial Soul requires in order to absorb Soul Rings steadily and efficiently, so that I can find the correct path of cultivation. Studying behind closed doors may never reach the essence of it."

This request was entirely reasonable. A young boy with a top-tier Martial Soul who had just broken convention wanting to explore his own path through extensive practice was perfectly normal.

At the same time, it perfectly concealed his true purpose of acquiring large numbers of Soul Rings as materials for the Munch-Munch Fruit.

Upon hearing this, Yue Guan's peach-blossom eyes flashed with surprise as he gave Chen Li another look.

He had not expected the boy to dare make demands, much less offer such an impeccable reason that was difficult to refute. Such scheming did not seem like that of a six-year-old child.

Bibi Dong listened quietly, lightly tapping her fingers against her scepter twice as though weighing the matter. After a moment, she slowly said, "Very well. I will grant you the appropriate access privileges. Spirit Hall encourages disciples with potential and determination to train and seize opportunities. However—"

Her voice suddenly turned cold, and an invisible pressure spread through the room. "The premise for all of this is that your loyalty to Spirit Hall must be beyond question. If I discover any improper actions from you, or any wavering in your heart..."

She did not finish, but the chill in her words was enough to explain everything.

Chen Li immediately bowed, his voice firm and decisive. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. That place which abandoned me has long ceased to have anything to do with me. My future lies only in Spirit Hall." He needed this platform and these resources, so naturally he would harbor no disloyal thoughts at this time.

"Very good." The coldness in Bibi Dong's eyes receded slightly, as though she was satisfied with his declaration. After a brief moment of thought, she raised her hand in a beckoning gesture.

A streak of light flew up from somewhere at her side and hovered precisely before Chen Li. It was an exquisitely crafted necklace, its chain woven from mithril and some kind of dark metal thread. At its end hung a strange gemstone the size of a pigeon's egg, containing a deep blue-violet glow like a nebula. Fine lightning patterns seemed to drift slowly within the gem.

"This is called the Heart of Illusory Thunder. It is a special Soul Tool," Bibi Dong explained. "It cannot amplify your strength, but it possesses a unique function: it can perfectly conceal and disguise the true age and aura of your first five Soul Rings.

With your current Soul Power to activate it, it is enough to make your thousand-year Soul Ring appear, both visually and to external perception, as a standard yellow Hundred Year Soul Ring. The tallest tree catches the strongest wind. Before you truly possess the strength to protect yourself, knowing how to conceal your edge is the wisdom of survival."

Chen Li's heart jolted. This was exactly what he needed most right now! He respectfully accepted the necklace with both hands. "Thank you, Your Majesty the Pope!"

He put the Heart of Illusory Thunder around his neck, the cool gemstone touching his skin. With a thought, he poured Soul Power into it.

Bzz...

The blue-violet nebula within the gemstone abruptly began spinning faster, and an extremely faint, nearly invisible energy field instantly enveloped his entire body.

Behind him, the glow of that deep Purple Soul Ring rippled slightly. Its color then faded like watercolor, rapidly changing from purple to yellow before finally stabilizing into a bright, standard yellow.

Not only that, but the hidden pressure and energy fluctuations belonging to a thousand-year Soul Ring vanished completely, becoming no different from those of an ordinary Hundred Year Soul Ring.

From his appearance to ordinary Soul Power perception, Chen Li was now merely a young Soul Master with a yellow first Soul Ring and decent talent.

Bibi Dong looked at the disguised Soul Ring, satisfaction flashing in her eyes. She had given Chen Li opportunity and protection, but she also needed to ensure that this potentially razor-sharp sword would not be exposed too early and attract unnecessary trouble before it was fully honed and pointed at the right target.